First things to do in Hong Kong

By Gemma Dignam (University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)

Hong Kong surprised me with its endless list of things to do. Even though I expected it to be a small, dense city, it also has beaches, hikes and islands to visit to keep you entertained for the whole year. When you first arrive, you’ll probably want to spend time settling into your accommodation, meeting new people and walking around the city which might be a bit overwhelming. Here are some places I recommend visiting in your first weeks, to get started!

Go to Victoria Peak

One of the most famous viewpoints in Hong Kong, you can see great views of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, both during the day and at night.
You can hike up from near HKU Station, taking about an hour, or take a bus or tram

Take the Star Ferry to TST

Most likely you will be living on Hong Kong Island so taking the Star Ferry across will be a great way to begin exploring Kowloon
Enjoy the views and watch the lightshow from TST harbour in the evening

Walk along Victoria Harbour

This another way to enjoy the skyline of Hong Kong and one of the first things I did when I arrived. Its surrounding areas such as Central, Admiralty and Wan Chai area area also great to wander around as you’ll most likely spend a lot of time here

Eat local food

Dim Sum is the most famous food in Hong Kong, and quite cheap- I recommend barbeque pork buns, shrimp dumplings, rice rolls and siu mai at Fresco- Kennedy Town, Yum Cha- Sheung Wan, King’s DimSum- Causeway Bay

Go to Mong Kok

This is an area famous for its markets, such as Ladies Market, and cheap shopping outlets such as Sneaker Street and Argyle Centre
It has a different feel to the Island and great food options so it’s great to walk around the area

Visit an Island

Hong Kong has many outlying islands accessible by ferry from Central Pier for a cheap price
Cheng Chau and Lamma Island are two of the main islands to visit, with a more laidback feel compared to the city, great food and beaches